WHO member states continue pandemic agreement negotiations ahead of World Health Assembly

WHO announced on 10 May 2024 that governments meeting at its Geneva headquarters had agreed to continue negotiations on a proposed pandemic agreement. Hybrid and in-person discussions were to resume over the following weeks, ahead of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly beginning 27 May. The process follows member states’ December 2021 decision to negotiate a legally binding international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Key topics include a proposed global system for pathogen access and benefit sharing, including vaccines, treatments and diagnostics; pandemic prevention and One Health; and financial coordination to strengthen countries’ preparedness and response capacities. The member state-led Intergovernmental Negotiating Body’s Bureau will submit the outcome of its work for consideration at the Assembly.

The proposals concern international coordination and access to medical countermeasures, rather than changes to clinical practice. Although negotiating leaders reported progress across the draft, the WHO update did not announce a finalized agreement or provide detailed provisions. The agreement remained under negotiation at the time of the announcement.